A BUSH SKETCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 643, 4 December 1865, Page 5

A BUSH SKETCH.

(From tho Hokilika Leader.) The following description of tho difficulties attendant on fire-making in the bush during wet weather, was sent us by a correspondent:—

" This was the third day of incessant rain, and, although the majority of our neighbours remained in their huts keeping the tiros warm, w. had determined to w,.it no longer for fine weather, which wo began t" think would never come, but set into work at once. Accordingly, wo carefully made up our fires before leaving, hoping that when we returned at night, wet and weary, we should (lad sufficient embers alive to make a new 0110 with, for a chimney full of dead embers is rather a serious affair under such circumstances, especially if a supply of Blight dry wood is not at hand to work upon. After doing eight hours' penance in the midst of a steady downpour, we made tracks for the tents, wet, weary, and hungry, liopino; to find a warm hearth at least awaiting, but : ■ • I was wofully disappointed, nothing but p. .:lof charcoal and mortar meeting my gaie us I (Mrefub} looked into the cavity which I called a lira-place. However, I sot to work, but what misery iB fire* making under such ciruumstmi."es; overj thing soaking wet, wood porfect'y saturated ; and my chimney, not being a choice specimen of architectural skill, admitted the rain in streams, which was certainly somewhat detrimental to a yo»ng lire. The following method is the one most commonly adopted to raise the caloric in the bush : —You are supposed to have a little dry wood very fine, and also prepn.ro some thicker pieces—not too thick to begin with, remember. Now place a small piece of lighted candlo between two pieccs of wood lying parallel to C:'h other, and over the candle and on tlitse support" ■ u lay your-fire stuff; this will catch lire at once, and . j : now ndd tOj it the thicker pieced, and begin to feel somewhat anxious as to the result : if is usually in your favour, the fire beginning to flame, sparkle and smok", and you keep adding wood uutil your pile is sufficiently largo to commenco with, cara being requisite not to smother in your eagerness for a " warm" the juvenile combustion. You pause now, and watch with tho mostintenso anxiety for the result; it is an even toss-up between the rain and the fire; you" sympathies are all in favor of the latter; with a broad piece of wood you tenderly cover it, and going down on your handj and knees gently pufif it; feeding it every now and again with choice morsels of dry wood, suitable for so young a creature possessing such an imperfect digestion. Some folks anathematize tho falling rain and green wood by way of filling up the timo, but I can't say I ever found it of much service. And now, good easy man, you think your fire "is ripening," nnd withdrawing for a moment or two, turn your attenti-n to other household matters,' gasping all tho time like a fish out of water in the midst of the dense cloud of acrid smoke that fills the tent. In the middle of your occupation you euddonly remember your fire—turn to look at it —lucifer matches and saltpetre! tho topmost layers of wood refuse to kindle, and the central nucleus of luminosity is slowly expiring ; you rusli towards it with something on your lips certainly not to be found in tho letters of Lord Chesterfield to his Bon, and again devote your tenderest attention to it for the next twenty minutrs. At last succesß rewards your efforts ; tho fire overcome* the water—tho green sticks begin to eject jet 3 of steam from their ends— tongues of parti-coloured flame glide round tbem and lick their sides—tho tent gradually clears of smoke— you stand up and straighten your unfortunate back, which during all tho time has sufferod an unnatural strain, and wipe away the tears which plentifully bedew your cheeks—you " sling tho bill?," and, heaving a sigh of reliof, procecd to disencumber yourself of wet garments and put on dry ones, and, supper being over, what satisfaction to turn round and behold tho creation of your hands ar: ived at full maturity, glowing and sparkling, hissing and flaming, the hugo of pilo logs that you subsequently added taking firo in thoir turn and joining in the general jubilee— filling tho tent with light and warth, rapidly evaporating the moisture out of the saturated calico and tho wet garments you but now denuded yourself of. affording a pleasirg contrast to tho pattering of the rain on tho tent nnd the sighing of the wind amongst the trees j and amidst all the discomforts attendant on a bush life in such a country there is an intense luxury, which tho rich know not, after having sacrificed extensively at the slirino of tobacco, to roll into your *' yossum-rug," and, wearied by the exertions of the past day, all night long *• sleep in Elysium."